Our Company Blog

Proper Ash Removal

Enjoying cozy and warm fires in your wood-burning fireplace or stove comes with a few responsibilities, including cleaning up ashes after fires. This maintenance task requires a bit of safety awareness to prevent the occurrence of an accidental fire. Since safety is a top priority for Atlas Chimney, we would like to tell you more about proper ash removal. It is important to keep up with regular routine chimney and fireplace maintenance to be able to safely and efficiently burn wood fires. Following these suggestions can help you take care of this essential housekeeping task.

Wait until the ashes have cooled completely.

Patience is a virtue when you must remove ashes from your fireplace. You should wait for at least 24 hours before attempting this task. You never know when hot embers could be lurking within a pile of ashes.

Get the right tools together.

To properly dispose of ashes, you will need a metal container with a lid, gloves, and a fireplace shovel. It is crucial that your metal container have a lid to keep the ashes inside in case the container gets knocked over after it has been stored.

Scoop the ashes into the metal container with the fireplace shovel.

Once your ashes have cooled completely, Good Housekeeping recommends that you sprinkle damp tea leaves or coffee grounds on top to cover up any stale smell. Then, simply scoop up the ashes with the shovel and place them in your metal container. You will want to leave behind a layer of one inch of the ashes as this layer will help you build and maintain fires. A layer of ashes insulates and protects your firebox.

Store the metal container safely.

The best place to keep your container of ashes is outside of your home. You will want to put the container on a non-combustible surface, such as concrete or brick, to reduce fire hazards. If any of the ashes inside the container are still hot, that heat can ignite a fire if the container is placed on a wooden or other combustible surface.

If you have a wet/dry vacuum with a disposable bag, you can use it to vacuum up the ashes; however, you should wait at least four days after the fire has been extinguished to use this method of removing ashes.

Need more fireplace maintenance tips? Contact us at Atlas Chimney to find out the best ways of taking care of your fireplace.

Waterproofing Your Chimney

When the temperature drops below freezing in the winter, a lot of damage can happen to your masonry chimney if you are not prepared. Preventing water leaks is the most important thing you can do for the condition of your chimney. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) was not joking when they said that water is the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. Water penetration causes serious and expensive damage, and much of this damage occurs during the winter. If water has leaked into the bricks and mortar of your chimney, it will freeze and expand when the temperature drops. When this water thaws, it can cause the bricks and mortar to crack, break apart, and even fall out of your chimney. Known as spalling, this type of damage can lead to the collapse of your chimney structure if left unrepaired. At Atlas Chimney, we provide several water penetration preventive services that can reduce the risk of spalling each winter, including waterproofing your chimney. We would like to tell you more about this prevention method to keep water from leaking into your chimney to cause expensive damage.

What is waterproofing?

Even when your chimney is properly built, the masonry materials absorb water. Waterproofing creates a barrier that keeps water from penetrating bricks and mortar. Our CSIA-certified chimney technicians will apply a coating of a waterproofing formula to your entire chimney. We only use formulas that are 100 percent vapor permeable, and this is essential because it allows any moisture and vapors trapped inside the bricks and mortar to escape yet prevents water from rain or melted snow from being absorbed into the masonry materials. We never use paint or clear sealants because they lead to more damage by trapping in moisture. We will also repair any damage that has occurred due to spalling or other issues before applying the waterproofing formula. We will be sure to fix any gaps, cracks, and missing bricks and mortar so that your chimney will be sound and safe.

What other kinds of damage can water penetration do to my chimney?

When water leaks into your chimney, it can cause extensive damage to every component of your chimney as well as parts of your home. The metal parts of your chimney like the damper, the liner, and the firebox can suffer from rusting damage and other types of corrosion. These parts can also crack and break apart, which causes your chimney to be unsafe to use. It can rot any neighboring wooden structures as well. You can even experience water leak damage inside your home, including water-stained ceilings and walls.

How else can Atlas Chimney protect my chimney from water penetration?

We also provide custom flashing installation services that will prevent water from leaking in between the roof and the chimney as well as chimney cap installation services that keep water from rain and melted snow from entering your chimney at the top. We are happy to consult with you about the best water leak preventive services for your particular chimney.

Keep your chimney from suffering from water penetration damage this winter. Contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for our waterproofing services.